I think this is the first-and for now the only-universal changer available.

Because the introduction of new surround music titles (non-classical/jazz) has slowed to a teeny tiny dribble, it almost seems kind of a black joke to see this after all the people that were asking for one on this forum & others.

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If it matters to anyone, The Flaming Lips' surround version of The Soft Bulletin is supposed to come out next Tuesday. And thank the audio gods it ISN'T one of those mutant DualDiscs! Like the surround version of Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, it will be a CD+dvd-audio package.

*And* their upcoming new album, At War With The Mystics, coming out in April, will also be available in 5.1 form.

The Flaming Lips' landmark 1999 album 'The Soft Bulletin' will be re-issued on DVD in the US on 31 January. As per the 'Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots 5.1' release, the album tracks will be supplied in advanced resolution 2.0 and 5.1 mixes, as well as Dolby 2.0 and 5.1 mixes. There will, of course, also be a whole host of extra goodies. The full content list is:

The Soft Bulletin - 5.1/2.0
1. Race For The Prize
2. A Spoonful Weighs A Ton
3. The Spark That Bled
4. Slow Motion
5. What Is The Light
6. The Observer
7. Waitin' For A Superman
8. Suddenly, Everything Has Changed
9. The Gash
10. Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
11. Sleeping On The Roof
12. The Spiderbite Song
13. Buggin'

Album Outtakes
1. 1000ft Hands
2. The Captain
3. Satellite Of You

Radio Sessions
1. Up Above The Daily Hum
2. The Switch That Turns Off The Universe
3. We Can't Predict The Future
4. Remained Unrealizable

Video Extras
1. Race For The Prize
2. Waitin' For A Superman

Here it is at cduniverse (& already available to purchase; I guess they don't have to wait like brick-n-mortar stores do?).

Lastly, a Doors boxset with all their studio albums remixed into hi-res surround (reportedly on DualDisc ) is scheduled to come out sometime this year. But after this announcement last summer, I haven't heard anything since then.

Pioneer 563 - so-so audio. Typical (good) playback for audio and video. Nothing to write home about, but a good entry-level contender.

Pioneer 578 - see 563 entry.

Integra 6.5 - same as the Onkyo, but a single-disc player. While I love the looks of Integra components (hell, I was a verbal advocate of the DTR-9.1 a/v receiver), save yourself some money and get the Onkyo model.

Denon 1920 - same as the Pioneer 563, but adds upscaling via HDMI. Has the Faroudja chipset, which can cause MB on some displays, but all-in-all a good entry-level player.

I own a Onkyo 802 and I was surprised at its' impressive sound. It is used in a secondary system. (An Esoteric DV-50 is in the main.) By not expecting too much from the Onkyo, I was pleasantly surprised by its' sound.

OK, my gripe. When the unit is turned on, "Imaginative sight and sound" scrolls on the display. Why can I not disable this "feature"???? Yes, it is the little things in life that really tend to bother someone.